The Delire Family of Alameda County, California
The following snippets have not been added to the family website.
Peter and Merida Delire lived in Alameda County, California. In 1925 the Iowa State census showed this family living in Sioux City, Iowa. However, by 1930 Merida and her children were found living in the Oakland, California, area. Merida Delire roomed with her daughter, Flora Steichen and Flora’s daughter, Mary. Their next door neighbors were the William Chevalier family. Laura Chevalier was Merida’s daughter too. They all lived on Ridgeway Avenue; however, neither Flora nor Merida’s husbands are listed. Flora and Laura’s parents were Merida Patry (later Delire) and Philias Turgeon.
1930 US Census
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Merida’s daughter, Cecilia, lived nearby on Ridgeway Avenue with her new husband, Edward A. Renshaw. Cecilia’s parents were Peter Delire Jr. and Merida Patry Turgeon.
Cecilia (Delire) Renshaw
VJ and I met her years ago when we visited Mary Cecile Smith in San Leandro, California. Cecile offered us brunch and played the piano. Cecilia’s husband, Edward, owned and operated a store (hardware?), which was located in Oakland, California.
We were told their store had its 15 minutes of fame in 1974. Some of you may recall Patty Hearst and the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA). The SLA demanded food be given away for free to Oakland’s poor. This give away was held in front of the Renshaw store. In fact, there is a famous picture of a man standing on the back of a truck holding a bullhorn in front of this store. A riot broke out and their store’s windows were smashed and goods looted. After that they put bars on the store’s windows.
The Renshaws adopted two boys. One boy was named Ken.
The following comes from official government documents regarding Cecilia and Edward Renshaw. Voting lists show where voters lived. In this case we can see where the Renshaws lived over time.
1930 Voters List
1932 Voters List
1938 Voters List
1944 Voters List
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Deaths California Death Index, 1940-1997 Name: Edward A Renshaw Sex: MALE Birth Date: 19 Feb 1904 Birthplace: Iowa Death Date: 29 Dec 1969 Death Place: Alameda Mother's Maiden Name: Zz |
Peter Sr, Platte, South Dakota |
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Social Security Death Index
Name: Cecelia Renshaw
Last Residence: 94577 San Leandro, Alameda, California, United States of America
Born: 18 Dec 1904
Died: 1 May 1996
State (Year) SSN issued: California (1973 )
Other Delire Deaths
Agnes Delire died young in the early part of the twentieth century. Her obituary said she was an accomplished artist.
Louis was Peter and Merida Delire’s only son. Louis died under mysterious circumstances in 1959. The funeral was held in Peoria, Illinois.
